Join the Konzerthausorchester Berlin as it ushers in a series of captivating musical events that promise to leave audiences spellbound. From the New Year's concert featuring Strauss and Dvořák to the interactive 'In the Middle' experience and the evocative chamber music performances, every event presents a unique opportunity to witness the orchestra's versatility and passion. With renowned conductors like Joana Mallwitz and Ivan Fischer, and soloists such as Nicolas Altstaedt and Kirill Gerstein, the line-up is nothing short of spectacular. Dive into an orchestral journey that resonates with the beauty of classical music.

Konzerthausorchester Berlin: A Symphony of Experiences

Experience the harmony of stories and music as the Konzerthausorchester Berlin presents a series of spellbinding concerts. From Sofia Gubaidulina's 'Fairytale Poem' to the lively short concerts, audiences are invited to delve into rich musical narratives. This season features celebrated talents like Joana Mallwitz and Sheku Kanneh-Mason, alongside captivating pieces ranging from classical masterpieces to contemporary compositions. Join us in Berlin for a journey through music that promises to engage and inspire.

Exploring the Soundscape: A Symphony of Stories at the Konzerthaus Berlin

This March, the Konzerthausorchester Berlin invites you to a series of captivating musical events, ranging from intimate chamber music ensembles to engaging orchestral workshops and family-friendly concerts. Featuring renowned musicians such as Suyoen Kim, Florian Groß, and the illustrious William Christie, these performances promise to resonate with audiences of all ages and musical tastes. With a repertoire spanning from classic compositions by Mozart and Haydn to contemporary works by Missy Mazzoli and Unsuk Chin, the Konzerthausorchester Berlin is set to create unforgettable musical experiences in the heart of Berlin.

A March to Remember: Konzerthausorchester Berlin's Diverse Musical Offerings

From Beethoven to Clara Schumann and György Ligeti, the Konzerthausorchester Berlin presents a repertoire that beautifully captures the evolution of music and the rich tapestry of cultural influences. Featuring a range of events from orchestral performances to chamber music matinees, and intimate concerts, music lovers can immerse themselves in the diverse sounds and narratives brought to life by world-class conductors and talented musicians. This spring, the Konzerthausorchester Berlin promises a captivating celebration of music's timeless power to connect and inspire.

The Vibrant Symphony of Konzerthausorchester Berlin: A Journey Through Music

Experience a musical odyssey with the Konzerthausorchester Berlin as they present a thrilling array of events from May to June 2025. From chamber music to orchestral masterpieces, each performance boasts a unique blend of talent and creativity. Featuring world-renowned performers like Suyoen Kim and Anja Bihlmaier, this series offers a rich tapestry of sounds, including works by Piazzolla, Ligeti, and Rachmaninoff. Join us in this exploration of musical brilliance across Berlin's most prestigious venues.

A Symphony of Sounds: Exploring the Konzerthausorchester Berlin's Musical Extravaganza

As the curtain rises on the 2025 season, Berlin is set to become a hub of classical music enchantment. From the opening festival featuring the mastery of Rachmaninoff and Schubert to intimate espresso concerts and anticipated open-air nights, the city will host a series of captivating performances. Led by distinguished conductors Joana Mallwitz, Ustina Dubitsky, and others, these events promise to bring the timeless beauty and emotion of classical music to life across iconic venues. Each performance is set to offer a unique musical experience, fostering a profound connection with audiences.

A Symphony of Seasons: Celebrating Classical Music in Berlin

Prepare to embark on a captivating musical journey as the Konzerthausorchester Berlin unveils its 2025 concert season. From the grandiose opening with Rachmaninoff's intricate piano compositions to the evocative sounds of Schubert's symphonies, audiences will be treated to an array of performances that promise to both enchant and challenge. With esteemed conductors like Joana Mallwitz and prodigious talents such as Giorgi Gigashvili and Sheku Kanneh-Mason, this season offers a harmonious blend of classics and innovative presentations.

A Symphony of Seasons: Exploring the 2025 Konzerthausorchester Berlin Concerts

In the summer of 2025, Konzerthausorchester Berlin offers a musical journey like no other, featuring a series of captivating events at the Konzerthaus Berlin. The repertoire, spanning from Stravinsky to Schubert, promises an immersive experience for music lovers. With performances by renowned conductor Joanna Mallwitz and guest artists like Sheku Kanneh-Mason, each event promises a unique blend of classical music and storytelling. Whether it's a short concert, an expedition into classical masterpieces, or an open-air extravaganza, these concerts offer something for every musical palate.

A Symphony of Events: Exploring Konzerthausorchester Berlin's Musical Extravaganza

A nearly hour-long Ninth Symphony with chorus and large orchestra: who wouldn’t think of Beethoven? But, “instead of praising joy, that beautiful spark of the gods” — to quote the Schiller line Beethoven sets in his Ninth — Henze said that in his Sinfonia N. 9 he evokes “a world of horror and persecution that continues to cast its shadow.” The work is based on Anna Seghers’s great anti-fascist novel The Seventh Cross: seven prisoners escape from a concentration camp in Nazi Germany, and only one of them manages to reach freedom. With gripping intensity and deep empathy, Henze traces the fugitives’ terror and the brutality of their pursuers — “an apotheosis of the terrible and the painful,” and at the same time “an expression of the greatest reverence for the people who resisted during the era of Nazi-fascist terror.” With Henze’s harrowing confession in sound, the Konzerthausorchester Berlin and its acclaimed Chief Conductor Joana Mallwitz make their Lucerne Festival debut. And since Joana Mallwitz is not only a thrilling maestra but also a gifted communicator, she will introduce the symphony herself at the start of the concert.

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Konzerthausorchester Berlin | Berlin Radio Choir | Joana Mallwitz

KKL Luzern Concert Hall

We have waited a long time for this, you have waited a long time for this - Berlin's most beautiful open-air living room, Gendarmenmarkt, will be open to all of us again from summer 2025, now renovated sustainably and in accordance with monument protection regulations. And that means: finally being able to stroll around again, sit on the steps, marvel at the architecture - and listen to wonderful concerts.

Classic Open Air opening night

Gendarmenmarkt

For the third and final time, artist in residence Sheku Kanneh-Mason will be a guest soloist with the Konzerthausorchester. With his cello, he lends his voice to King Solomon, as Ernest Bloch's ‘Schelomo’, first performed in New York in 1917, is a dialogue between the biblical ruler and his people. This in turn speaks from the orchestra. In terms of its musical structure, the short 20-minute, late-romatic neoclassical rhapsody could easily pass for film music: It illustrates the world view and character of the king, who, like other people, knows happy and darker phases of life. The composer's desire to create vital Jewish music is expressed in numerous sound quotations.

Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Michael Sanderling

Konzerthaus Berlin

‘The expedition concerts are all about the pure joy of listening. We approach the great masterpieces of classical music from different directions, listen to the details, combine background stories and anecdotes with musical discoveries and take the audience on this journey,’ says Joana Mallwitz, describing the format. She first shares her enthusiasm at the piano, then switches to conducting the Konzerthausorchester. The entire work is then performed together - in this case, Franz Schubert's Symphony No. 9 in C major,  known as ‘The Great‘, and ‘one of the best pieces ever’ for our chief conductor.

Expedition Concert with Joana Mallwitz

The chicken that seems to cluck through the first movement of Haydn's Paris Symphony No. 83 in the second theme was not sighted there by the composer himself but, as is so often the case, by posterity. But with Haydn's numerous symphonies, epithets are certainly helpful. With ‘La Poule’ from 1785, Joana Mallwitz continues her Haydn focus at the Konzerthausorchester, which spans several seasons.

Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Joana Mallwitz

The one-hour short concerts ‘8Zehn30’ on Thursdays from 18:30 at the Konzerthaus Berlin are always short and sweet: let go of everyday life and simply immerse yourself in 60 minutes of music without a break - regardless of whether the end of the working day is already in sight or another evening shift has to be put in. The orchestra musicians of the Konzerthausorchester Berlin accompany their audience through a short(er) concert evening - from the personal introduction to the after-concert drinks at the bar in the Beethoven Hall.

8ZEHN30 – Short Concert

‘We tell ourselves stories through good music,’ our chief conductor Joana Mallwitz is convinced. And that's why there are once again two Night Sessions this season, which she has newly developed with and for the Konzerthaus Berlin. The concerts with the Konzerthausorchester Berlin, which start at 9.30 pm on Fridays, always revolve around a theme that she presents in an unusual stage setting and to which a guest panellist contributes a different perspective on the common topic.

Night Session

At our espresso concerts in the early afternoon, we serve two kinds of caffeine - in cups and, of course, musically: outstanding young musicians present surprise programs that really wake you up - in this case on the podium of the Konzerthausorchester Berlin and as a viola soloist!

Espresso concert with the Konzerthausorchester Berlin

‘There is still no music that is closer to my heart than Schubert's,’ says Joana Mallwitz. This composer and his works were the ‘initial spark’ for her to become a conductor. ‘I'm really looking forward to conducting Schubert's “Great” in C major not in front of cameras and an empty hall, as I did in 2020 when I made my debut with the Konzerthausorchester due to the coronavirus, but in front of an audience. I think it's one of the best pieces ever,’ says our chief conductor.

Sergei Rachmaninoff wrote such difficult piano parts that not many people wanted to have a work dedicated to them. Some, however, were given the opportunity to play it without being asked; this was the case with the Polish pianist Josef Hofmann with the Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor. Rachmaninoff practiced his own compositions for several hours a day, setting himself apart from his contemporaries in terms of technique and playing ability. Giorgi Gigashvili, on the other hand, never practices for many hours, as he is not concerned with duration but with a love of the process. Perhaps this is precisely why the Third Piano Concerto is in such wonderful hands with him, through which he knows how to guide the audience with playful ease. Under the direction of Joana Mallwitz, the Konzerthausorchester Berlin juxtaposes the melodic and weighty drama of the Russian composer with Schubert's "Great" Symphony. Marked by song-like melodies and profound emotions, the door opens to the new season.

Festival Opening

Forum at the Castle Park

Our musicians come together several times each season not only in large symphonic formations, but also as the Konzerthaus Chamber Orchestra - this time led by our first concertmaster Sayako Kusaka, who is also the ensemble's artistic director. They choose the pieces for their concerts themselves.

Konzerthaus Chamber Orchestra

Chamber music matinee of the Konzerthausorchester

Four horns and orchestra usually means that Robert Schumann's lively concert piece written in 1849 is on the programme. Not so this time: Estonian composer Erkki-Sven Tüür has written a new work for the horn quartet german hornsound, which it premiered two years ago. The ensemble includes KHO horn player Timo Steininger.

Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Andris Poga

The Konzerthausorchester invites families to the Great Hall on Sundays at 11.00 - croissants and hot chocolate included! A musician always leads through the program. They reveal secrets from everyday life in the orchestra and invite you to join in. Meanwhile, younger siblings between the ages of 3 and 6 are very welcome at the “Musical childcare”.

Mozart-Matinee

„The 'Concert Românesc' reflects my deep love for Romanian folk music and Romanian-speaking culture as such. The piece was immediately banned and only performed many decades later,“ says Ligeti about his 1951 work, which was banned at the time due to some dissonances that were considered undesirable.

Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Anja Bihlmaier

Chamber music of the Konzerthausorchester

Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale of the Little Mermaid is world-famous: In the depths of the sea, the mermaid swaps her fish tail for legs with the sea witch so that she can emerge into the human world. This costs her her voice. During a storm, she rescues a prince. However, he ends up marrying someone else and she, the creature of nature, has to perish as foam on the waves. Alexander Zemlinsky has captured her tragic fate in impressive, dazzling orchestral colours.

Berlin Konzerthaus Orchestra, Juraj Valčuha

Haydn's composition is characterised by a dramatic, extremely moving emotionality that is hard to resist. It was initially conceived as a purely instrumental composition - meditation music in seven slow movements with a prelude and final movement („Il Terremoto“ - the earthquake) for a Passion service. However, when Haydn heard an arrangement of his work with a German text in Passau in 1794, he was inspired to write his own vocal version. The premiere took place in Vienna in 1796. With the flourishing of choral societies in the 19th century, this vocal version of the Seven Words became one of the most frequently performed pieces of Passion music ever.

Good Friday concert

Our honorary conductor Iván Fischer is a guarantee for unusual programmes. This time, he and the Konzerthausorchester will perform works by four composers who were ostracised and persecuted by the National Socialists and whose works shaped the avant-garde of the interwar period. Paul Hindemith, Kurt Weill and Hanns Eisler found their way to the United States via detours, but Erwin Schulhoff was interned in Prague, deported and died of tuberculosis in a camp in Bavaria.

Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Iván Fischer

Right in the middle – pick your favourite spot in the midst of the orchestra! The musicians of the Konzerthausorchester Berlin will rearrange themselves for you. Experience music where it is created and feel the special atmosphere that arises between the orchestral members and our conductor while making music. You’ll also have the opportunity to ask Iván Fischer questions. In the end, you will definitely be able to say: I was right in the thick of things, not just on the sidelines.

In the middle

At our espresso concerts in the early afternoon, we serve two kinds of caffeine - in cups and, of course, musically: outstanding young musicians present surprise programs that really wake you up - in this case on the podium of the Konzerthausorchester Berlin and as a violin soloist.

Our former chief conductor Christioph Eschenbach is back on the podium of the Konzerthausorchester and is bringing a highly talented young pianist with him: The 19-year-old Simon Haje will play Beethoven's fourth piano concerto from 1805, which already points in the direction of Romanticism. Robert Schumann was not the only one who loved the work, which is the first of its genre to begin directly with the solo instrument. The audience also liked it extraordinarily well straight away. Bruckner's Symphony No. 3 did not fare so well at first, which is why the easily unsettled composer revised it more often than any other of his nine symphonies. It was not until 1890 (17 years after the completion of the first version) that musicians and Viennese audiences finally stopped objecting and the work was finalised!

Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Christoph Eschenbach

„It's the sound in particular. Nobody else has it in this way [...] . And I think it's also the way you present the music to the audience. For me, it's very important that you have very quick access to the audience.“ This is how the renowned American baroque specialist, conductor and harpsichordist William Christie describes the French ensemble Les Arts Florissants, which he has led since 1979.

Konzerthausorchester Berlin, William Christie

p>Chamber music is one of the great joys of life for our orchestral musicians. Here they meet up with Lera Auerbach, the composer, pianist and visual artist to whom a ‘Creative Portrait’ is dedicated this season. She will play Mozart's Piano Concerto in D minor, first performed in 1785, in a version with string quintet. As the orchestra plays the role of a partner to the solo instrument in this concerto far more than in earlier representatives of the genre, K. 466 is probably a particularly good choice for such an arrangement!

Music is time in sound. Sometimes it is fast, sometimes very slow and extended. The tempo of the music can have a steady pulse like the heartbeat or expand like the universe. In this concert we rush, hearing and feeling, from the infinity of the atmosphere of space through the seasons and times of day to the now, immediately - in this moment.

Children's Day: Family Concert with the Konzerthaus Orchestra

Music is time in sound. Sometimes it is fast, sometimes very slow and extended. The tempo of the music can be like a heartbeat, have a steady pulse or expand like the universe. In this concert we rush, hearing and feeling, from the infinity of the atmosphere of space through the seasons and times of day to the now, immediately - in this moment.

Do you ever wonder during a symphony concert im Großen Saal how the Konzerthausorchester actually manages to play together so perfectly? What does a conductor and the individual musicians in the instrumental groups contribute? Successful orchestral playing, like successful coexistence in a democratic society, is based on listening to each other and creating polyphony together. In our workshop, you can literally experience this for yourself - even without any previous musical knowledge.

The Orchestra Society

Not only as a big symphonic ensemble, but also as the Konzerthaus Chamber Orchestra our Konzerthausorchester musicians come together several times each season – this time under the direction of of our First Concertmaster Suyoen Kim. They choose the pieces and instrumentation for their concerts themselves.

Off to Italy! If not in person, you can at least escape the grey of Berlin for a while with the Konzerthausorchester, Joana Mallwitz and our former artist in residence violist Antoine Tamestit. First, Swedish composer Andrea Tarrodi will take you through picturesque Ligurian villages.

Sofia Gubaidulina's ‘Fairytale Poem’ from 1971, with which the Konzerthausorchester and Joana Mallwitz begin their concert, is, according to the composer, about a little piece of chalk with big dreams of marvellous things that it wants to draw. Unfortunately, it is only used as blackboard chalk at school and is eventually thrown away. A boy finds it and begins to draw castles, gardens and sunsets on the street. The chalk is too happy to realize that it is finally disintegrating.

Good news for all fans of Sebastian Knauer - the pianist is back at the Konzerthaus with Mozart's Concerto in D minor, premiered in 1785. Compared to earlier works in this genre, the orchestra is increasingly taking on the role of piano partner, which is of course good news for the Konzerthausorchester.

Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Jan Willem de Vriend

Mozart's Hoffmeister Quartet was written a year after he began composing „Figaro“ and was published by Hoffmeister in 1786. A strange mixture of cheerfulness and melancholy connects the great quartet with the opera. Alfred Einstein said of the Adagio that it „speaks of suffering never before heard in such depth“. Schubert's Quartet in G major D 887 from 1826 was ahead of its time - it took almost half a century for this „uncompromising exploration of the themes of major and minor, life and death, hope and despair“ to find an appropriate response from critics and audiences.

Leonard Bernstein combined classical music, jazz, show music and folk music from various communities to create distinctive musicals that were successful around the globe. George Gershwin also combines classical concert and jazz, and his music is at home on Broadway and in Carnegie Hall. Pianist Kirill Gerstein performs Gershwin's world hit „Rhapsody in Blue“ as a soloist with the Konzerthausorchester under Iván Fischer.

Kleiner Saal

Start your New Year's Eve fireworks in a musical way with us in the Great Hall - with the Konzerthausorchester, our chief conductor Joana Mallwitz, cello soloist Nicolas Altstaedt and festive and cheerful orchestral pieces from Johann Strauss' rousing Fledermaus Overture to Antonín Dvořák's turbulent “Carnival” and Ottorino Respighi's tone poem “Roman Festivals”.

Konzerthausorchester Berlin

Sep 7, 2026

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Classic Open Air opening night

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